Basement Tapes

Everything seemed to fall into place at last Monday's Basement performance. No longer does this feel like "Shane with his Nashville pick-up band" - we ARE a band. After the show a few people asked me if we all moved out here from Seattle, assuming we'd played together for years. Aaron Tosti, Nathan Thomas and latest addition, Eric Newcomer have really taken these songs to new places. They are not doing note-for-note recreations of the recordings, I wouldn't want them to anyways, they are making these songs their own - and we're forging a new sound.

Super-fan, Meagan Mays captured the energy and electricity of the night with these video clips...


"So Hard to Make an Easy Getaway", which I've been kicking around for a couple years, made it's full band debut, and it's fast becoming the "feel good" pinnacle of the set.


After our impromptu cover of The Beatles' White Album rocker at last month's 64-Ten show - we've refined it and now it's one of our favorites to play.


"Ain't No Grave" is one of those songs that relies almost completely on the groove, and Aaron (drums) and Nathan (bass) reached a new level with this performance. It's also liberating to have Eric (guitar) filling in some licks so I can focus on my preacher-man delivery. I can't wait to get this band together again.

Next up... May 26th at the Family Wash...

The BIG Catch-up

Alright, the day finally arrived. Internet at home!

So let me catch you up on some of the highlights of the week.

First of all here's our house...



Loving our house. I recently wrote a song called "Double Paned Windows", somewhat inspired by our Home Sweet Home.

So Tuesday was the big day of the week. Our internet guy came and set us up, then we headed out to the Municipal Auditorium to be extra's in the Gwyneth Paltrow/Tim McGraw movie, Love Don't Let Me Down. Not nearly enough people were there to fill out the seats, so they put dummys in most of the seats. But Meagan and I were on the ground floor only 15 feet (or less) from the stage, so there is a good chance we'll be seen as Gwyneth is strutting down the catwalk of the stage singing the movies closing song. It was so much fun I almost hated to leave, but I had a rock show to play!

That night, instead of huddling around my TV or computer watching the season premier of LOST, I was playing my first show as a local with a full band. It was at The Family Wash for their "short sets" night. We played 6 songs, had a great time, and got a good reaction from our friends, the club and its patrons. I had Joey Sanchez and Nathan Thomas backing me up, so what could go wrong?

Here's the setlist (w/ live & studio clips from various sources):

1. Lost Myself Again
2. Honey I Choose You
3. Idle Hands
4. Across the River
5. Death & Texas
6. Ain't No Grave

Meagan filmed most of the show, and once we figure out how to get the video and sound synced up on iMovie, we will post a clip. But for now here's a picture that Joey's wife Brynn took.



Next Tuesday (will I ever get to see LOST when it's new) Joey, Nathan, and I will be joined by Josiah Holland on keys to round out the band's sound when we play The 5 Spot. We will be playing a full set, so be prepared for more video clip threats, and rock shots by the wives and girlfriends :)

State of Emergency

A surprise snow storm has slowed me down the last couple of days.

Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen declared a state of emergency!

I'm hoping this doesn't affect the Family Wash show on Tuesday night.



Thanks to those of you who are following this blog. And thanks Elizabeth, Mary and Arthur for the comments. Another thing I hope the snow doesn't get in the way of - our Comcast guy showing up to install internet at home on Tuesday morn!

Once we get that installed, expect this page to be full of all the bells and whistles you've come to expect from your favorite blogspot journals :)

The Family Wash

Getting internet installed next Tuesday.

AND... that night I have my 2nd show in town, and my first with a full band!

Nathan Thomas (who played with me on my first trip out to Nashville in Spring '08) on bass.

Joey Sanchez (who played drums with me in Dolour, until he moved to Nashville and became my lone connection to the town) on drums.

We are playing "Short Sets" on Tuesday, February 2nd at The Family Wash 8:30pm.

Got some more gigs in the works. I'll keep ya posted.

XO